Windshield cleaner



Au 22,1939. E. c. HORTON 2,170,264

' WINDSHIELD CLEANER F iled Sept. 2; 1936 2 Shaets-Shetl Q/ Figi 9 QINVENTOR Aug. 22, 1939. E. c. HORTON 2,170,264

WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Sept. 2, 1936 Zilaeets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TTRNEYS isTATss PATENT oFFl-cs wmnsnmmc sanm; 4 weo i' m? ApplicationSeptember aim. Serial No. some .llclaims. (cut-255) This inventionrelates to a motor vehicle and two sections I which converge forwardlyand form especially to the windshield cleaner system an angle, asindicated air-2. Each section is inthereof which is built into the-fabricated body clined or sloped rearwardly in an upward direcstructureor th ehi -tion and is supported along, its bottom edge in a 7 It hasheretoforebeen the custom to drive Waterproof manner, as .indlcated at3, the cowl paced wipers on the standard single plane windportion 4extending forwardly therefrom and the shield from a common source ofpower, such as instrument panel or interior moulding extend the wellknown suction operated cleaner motor. in: inwardly and d w ly, 8 wn n aThis motor has been frequently disposed between Each windshield sectionI is provided with a 10 the wipers and .connected thereto through a suitwiper C that is opera ed thel' ov r y 1 a 10 able linkage form of tranmi i on certain ingarm I. This arm is, in turn, fixed to a shaft makesof automobiles the present day windshield 8 which is journaled in abearing 9 of the hollow has veered toward the-divided type in whichright standard or housing I I). The shaft 9 is Journaled and leftwindshield sections are angular-1y reat a normal to its relatedwindshield section and .lated, forming a broad V. and sloping orinclinsince the latter slopes rearwardly the of the- 15 ins backwardlyin anupwarddirectionhfl'hishas shaft I is likewise ngularly displ e vnecessitated the employment of two individual spect to the horizontal.The chamber of the .windshield cleaner motors, one for each sectionhollow standard I op ns. downwardly hro ,of the windshield. This notonly has entailed an aperture l2 in the forwardly extending cowl noadditional expense but,v since the trend is to portion 4 of the vehiclebody, the standard being 0- mount thewindshield cleaner at thelower-side -nrm,1y-mounted. uchss by suitable c mpi of the windshield,it has also been difllcult to means, so as to support the'shaft abovethe cowl make proper installation in a practical manner. /P0!'ti0l.1111P p relatlonto the wi i n The present invention has for its object toproparencycorporated or.combin ed with the motor vehicle sion It supprts an intermediate shaft it which structure as to not only facilitatethe installation, p fe ly s 1 disposed at an incline t0 but'to provide acleaner movement which is emthe horizontal and substantially parallel tothe cient and quiet in operation. The invention furplane of the wiper atuat ng Shaf F r 8 of 3 ther has for its object to provide a pluralwiper installation the bracket extension i4 is formed winds'hieldcleanerof practical construction andi te rally with the hollowstandard I 0, and

designed for installation on the divided type of signed to be inserteddownwardly hr the windshield with the wipers being operatedfrom cowlopening I2. The two shafts 8 and I 3 are a single source of power.supported on the standard as a unit, with the In the drawings: lowershaft ll providing journal support for- Fig. l is a phantom view inperspective ofa the hub!!! of a; pulley or wheel l9. One or dividedwindshield showing the windshield moi'e flexible links or chains l5, whiy be cleaner installation -diagrammatically; Joined to, form an endlessmember if desired,

Fig. 2 .s a fragmentary sectional view through connect the wheel It to apreferably smaller one section of thewindshield showing the related wheefi d n he sha t 8. Co se :wiper and its mounting, bortions of thecleaner:when the lower wheel I! is, oscillated, the wiper mechanism beingbroken away for the sake of actuating shaft will also oscillate. Iclearness; I In practice two independent chains are pro- Fig. 3 is asectional view through one of the vided, since this facilitates theirattachment to wiper shaft mountings taken about on line 3-3 the teeth orprojections l8 and I! on the wheels. f F Preferably two projectionsoccur on each wheel Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section through the andthese are undercut to overhang in opposite connection between one 'ofthe power linksand directions for more intimately engasins and theconnected drivenarm; f .terlocklng with the terminal loops of thechains.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view about on Because of this mode ofattachment the remainline I5 of Fig.3: and ing peripheral portions ofthe thus mutilated rims Fig. 6 is a similar viewabout on .line 8-4 of ofthe wheels may be uninterrupted to support Fig. 2. the chains as thewheels oscillate. Referring more particularly to the drawings, 'Tofacilitate the inter-engagement of the chains the windshield of the moor W33 i? MP the with the wheel teeth, and alsoto take up unneces- *6wide a windshield cleaner construction so in- Beneath the cowl portion(the bracket extensary slack in the cha'ns, the lower shaft I3 isadjustably mounted in a slot 20 of the depending bracket part l4. Afterthe chains have been properly placed, the lower shaft is moveddownwardly in the slot 20, to take up all unnecessary slack in thechains, and then firmly secured in such position by a clamping nut 2iand a cooperating shoulder 22 on the shaft l3 embracing the oppositeface portions 28 of the bracket part (Figs. 2 and 6).

Power is transmitted to the two lower shafts from a common source ofpower which may be any suitable motor or drive part and is renderedreadily accessible by disposing the same preferably intermediate thespaced wipers. of power depicted embodies a motor 23 having anoscillating drive shaft 24 from whi h power is transmitted to theoppositely spaced w eels IQ for imparting oscillatory movement to theatter. In the illustrated embodiment of the inve drive shaft has fixedthereon a cross arm 25 with the opposite ends thereof projecting fromthe shaft and connected by oppositely extending push-pull links 26 tothe respective wheels H), as by means/of a crank arm 21 fixed thereon.Oscillation of the drive shaft 24 will reciprocate the linkssimultaneously in opposite directions and, through the chain and wheeltransmission, cause the wipers 6 to move back and forth over therespective windshield sections. For each in manufacture and assemblythis crank arm 21 may be formed integrally with the hub 19.

To avoid 'binding of parts by reason of the angular disposition of thewiper shafts 8 with respect to the drive shafts 24, and also to obtainthe maximum power without subjecting the light motor to unnecessaryload, the crank arms 21 are caused to move in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of movement of the links 26. This necessitates theintermediate shafts I3 to be disposed with their longitudinal axessubstantially parallel to that of the drive shaft 24 and in a planepractically normal to the plane of said reciprocating links. Suchdisposition of the shafts is accomplished herein by having the oppositebearing faces 28 of the bracket extension l4 angularly displaced fromthe plane of the-related windshield section and disposed more nearlyparallel with the plane of operation of the links.

Therefore, the two shaftsa and I3 of each unit, while having theirlongitudinal axes displaced practically to the same degree from thehorizontal, are angularly displaced relative to each other from thevertical. This angular displacement is illustrated on an enlarged scalein Fig. wherein the axis of rotation of the wiper actuating shaft 8 isindicated by broken line 29 as being normal to the windshield section,whereas the longitudinal axis of the fixed shaft i3 is indicated by thebroken line 30 and as being normal to the plane of operation of the link26. This angular displacement is permitted by the flexibility in thetransmission between the rims of the wheels l8 and'lS in each unit. a

From the foregoing it may be observed that the driving shaft 24 and theintermediate shafts l8 operate in planes substantially parallel to eachother while the wiper shafts 8 are angularly displaced with respectthereto so that they may oscillate about axes normal to their respectivewindshield sections' When installing the cleaner mechanism on a,vehicle, the wiper mounting units a. are readily mounted on the cowl infully assembled condition with the two shafts of each unit 76being'angularly displaced'so that the wiper shaft e source 8 willoscillate about its axis, generally indicated at 29 (Fig. 5), normal tothe windshield, while the intermediate shaft will oscillate about itsaxis, indicated by the broken line 30, in substantial parallelism withthe plane of the shaft 24. The outer ends of the links 26 may beconnected to the crank arms 21 through bailed joints 3|, which maintainfirm connections or joints between the arms and the links and facilitatethe installation of the windshield cleaner. I

While the foregoing description has been given in detail it is obviousthat the inventive concept is capable of other physical embodimentswithout departing from the scope or spirit of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A windshield cleaner for a motor vehicle, comprising a unit mountableand demountable as a whole'and having a wiper shaft, means forsupporting the shaft substantially normal to the windshield, said meanshaving a part for mounting the same exteriorly of the vehicl and asecond part extending interiorly of the vehicle, a second shaftsupported by said second part at an angle to said wiper shaft, andaflexible pull member directly connecting the angularly related shafts,said second shaft having a part connectible to a source of power forbeing operated there- 2. A windshield cleaner for a motor vehicle havinga windshield and a body portion extending forwardly thereof, comprisinga unit mountable and demountable as a whole and having a wiper shaft,means for supporting the shaft substantially normal to the windshield,said means having a part for mounting the same exteriorly on the bodyportion with a second part extending therethrough to the interior sideof such body portion, a second shaft supported by said second part at anangle to said wiper shaft, said second part having a slot in which saidsecond shaft is mounted for adjustment toward and from the first shaft,a flexible member operatively connecting the two shafts, and meansaccessible from the interior side of such body portion for adjustablysecuring said second shaft whereby any slack in the flexible member maybe taken up, said second shaft having a part connectible to a source ofpowenfor being operated thereby.

3. In a windshield cleaner for. an ularl'y reshaft substantially normalto such section and the axis of the power transmitting shaft angularlyrelated to the wiper shaft but parallel to the power transmitting shaftof the companion windshield section whereby the two power transmittingshafts may be driven by parts moving in the same plane with each other,a flexible transmission connecting each wiper shaft with its associatedpower transmitting shaft, a drive shaft interposed between the powertransmitting shafts in substantial parallelism thereto, and rigid partsdirectly connecting the latter to the drive shaft.

' 4. A windshield cleaner mountable and demountable as a unit andcomprising an operating shaft, a housing for mounting the shaft on avehicle forwardly of the windshield, said housing being closed at itsouter shaft supporting pormembers of the'two shafts,

- airopos vehicle, a member flxed on each shaft, flexible connectingmeans in the housing coupling the and means for ad- 'justing one shaftrelative to the other for taking up slack in the flexible connectingmeans.

5. A windshield cleaner comprising a unit mountable and demountableas anentirety and composed of an operating shaft,'a housing for mounting onthe cowl part of a motor vehicle to windshield surface, an oscillatablepower transmitting shaft, journaled in a part rigidly related to saidhousing, spaced projections extending radially from each shaft, andchain connecting 15 means on opposite sides of the shafts and inter- Iengaged with the projections. wherebygbl ration of one shaft will impartlike movement to the companion shaft, said connecting means beingdisposed within the housing.

6. A windshield cleaner unit for mounting in an opening provided in thebody portion of a motor vehicle in front of the windshield thereof, saidunit comprising'a housing for seating over the opening and having a partextending therethrough to the interior side of the body portion, a shaftjournaled in the outer end portion of the housing for actuating a wipercarrying arm, the housing being otherwise closed to the weather, anoscillating member adjustable supported on said part, and flexible meansarranged within the housing and operatively connecting said member totheshaft said member being adjustable to take up slack in the flexibleconnecting means and having a radially extending part for connection toa source of power for being oscillated thereby.

7. In a windshield cleaner for use on a motor vehicle having avertically divided windshieldwith the sections thereof angularlyrelated, a

to wiper shaft for each windshield section, housing means for each shaftsupporting .the same normal to the respective section and in convergentrelation with the companion wiper shaft, a power transmitting shaftassociated with each wiper iii shaft and suppor d inwardly from thatportion of the housing means which supports the wiper shaft, with thetwo power transmitting shafts being arranged in parallel relation to thecompanion power transmitting shaft, flexible transso mission meanswithin the housing means operatively connecting each power transmittingshaft to its associated wiper shaft in an individually mountable unit,and a common drive operatively connecting the parallel powertransmitting shafts id for operating the same.

8. In a windshield cleanerya unit mountable I anddemountable as anentirety and comprising a shaft, a housing supporting the shaft at'anormal to the windshield, a power transmitting shaft 0 supported by thehousing within the vehicle, said housing having a .pa'rt extendingthrough an opening in the vehicle to the interior thereof for supportingsaid power transmitting shaft therein, flexible-means operativelyconnecting the two shafts, and means adjustably supporting the powertransmitting shaft on said housing part for taking up'any slack in theflexible connecting means; operating means for the power trans-x mittingshaft of the unit, and transmission means flexibly connecting saidopera7 power transmitting shaft and permitting of such adjustment of thelatter. c

9. A windshield -'cleaner for a motor vehicle pomprising-launitmountable and demountable asawholeandhavingawiperactuatingshafha supportthe shaft substantially normal to the T members disposed within thehousingon oppositeitself having spaced projecting portions,- and meansto the I a housing for supporting the shaft exteriorly of normal to therelated windshield, said housing having a part extending interiorly ofthe vehicle,

a power transmitting shaft supported on said part interiorly of thevehicle, and a flexible pull'mem- 5 ber within the housing directlyconnecting the two' shafts. said second shaft having a part connectibleto a driving member for being actuated thereby.

10. A windshield cleaner unit comprising a 1 housing for mounting on thebody portion of a rotatably supported upon said part at the interiorside of the body portion, and a pair of flexible sides of the shaft androtatable memberand operatively connecting the same for oscillatorymovement, said rotatabl member being of larger diameter than the shaftso as to increase the angular movement of the latter relative to thatof' the rotatable member, said unit being mountable and demountable asan entirety and adapted for (301111801011. t0 8 source of power.

7 11. In a motor vehicle having,rearwardly extending and angularlyrelated windshield secforwardly extending cowl; a wiper shaft journaledon the cowl at a normal to each section, a windshield cleaner drivedisposed on said frame member beneath the space between the windshieldsections and having a driving crank member, the axes of the wiper shaftsbeing angularly related to each other and to that of the driving crankmember, and a transmission unit interposed between the crank. member andeach wiper shaft, each unit comprising a reciprocatory link connected atone end to the crank member, an'oscillatable member connected to theopposite end of the link by a ball and socket joint and,

means connecting each of the projecting portions of said oscillatablemember to the adjacent wiper shaft.

12. A windshield cleaner, comprising a unit mountable and demountable asan entirety and composed of an operating shaft, a housing formounting'on the cowl part of a motor vehicle to support the shaftsubstantially normal to the windshield surface, an oscillatable powertransmitting shaft joumaled in a part rigidly related to said housing,members extending radially from g each shaft, and connecting members onopposite sides of the shafts interengaged at'each end'with a respectiveone of the shaft carried members by. means of a projection on one memberand a receiving recess in the other member, whereby operation of oneshaft will impart like movement to the companion shaft, said connectingmembers being diposed within the housing.

13. Awindshield cleaner for a motor vehicle, comprising a unit mountableand demountable as a whole and having a wiper actuating shaft, a

,housing for supporting the shaft exterlorly of and normal to therelated windshield, said having apart extending interiorly of thev'ehipart interiorly of the vehicle, and a connecting member within thehousing having'termin'al I0 tions, anunderlying body frame member, and ac 70 cle, a power transmitting shaft supported on said shaft having aradial arm adapted to be linked to a driving member for being oscillatedthereby.

' 14. A windshield cleaner unit, comprising a housing for mounting onthe body portion of a motor vehicle in front of the windshield thereofand having a part extending therethrough to the interior side of thebody portion, a shaft journaled in the outer end portion of the housingfor actuating a wiper carrying arm, the housing being otherwise closedto the weather, a member rotatably supported upon said part at theinterior side of the body portion, and a pair of members disposed withinthe housingon opposite sides or the shaft and rotatable member and eachhaving terminal eyes engaging over projecting parts on the shaft androtatable member to connect the same for oscillatory movement, saidrotatable member having its projecting parts operating on a greaterradius than the projecting parts on the shaft so as to increase theangular movement of the latter relative to that of the rotatable member.

said unit being mountable and demountable as an entirety and adapted iorconnection to a source :10 01 power. 7

aawm c. HoR'roN.

